Pyrolysis and Combustion Characteristics of Two Russian Facemasks: Kinetic Analysis, Gaseous Emissions, and Pyrolysis By-Products

Abstract

Pyrolysis and combustion experiments were performed on two facemasks (hereafter named Tissue and Surgical) commonly used in the Russian Federation, first in a thermobalance and under four low-temperature ramps (5, 10, 15, and 20 °C/min). The pyrolysis mass rate curves present a unique devolatilization peak. The combustion mass rate curves present a unique devolatilization peak followed by a shoulder or a small further peak on its right-hand side. Both processes mainly occur between 200 and 500 °C. Simulations of these pyrolysis and combustion processes are performed with good agreement using the extended independent parallel reaction (EIPR) model. The gas chromatography technique was used to analyze the by-products of pyrolysis experiments performed under isothermal temperatures of 300, 400, and 500 °C. Combustion experiments were finally performed in a horizontal oven under a temperature ramp approximately equal to 5 °C/min to measure the main gaseous emissions: CO2 emissions are the main emissions of the Tissue mask, while total hydrocarbons are the main emissions of the Surgical mask. Significant differences are observed between the results obtained for the two masks because of the fibers they are built with (natural or synthetic).